News
The Future After The Future
World-changing tech doesn’t come around too often. But I’m sensing the winds of change stirring around the next, next world-changing tech revolution and it’s in the Windy City. No, I don’t mean AI (that’s today’s “next revolution” )....
Summertime Growth
Summertime is a time to grow. Vacation is a great time to grow your relationships. The relative calm of business busyness is the perfect opportunity to focus and grow your company. And it's the best time of year to take a step back,...
Easy, Breezy, Summer Listening (Podcast)
Summer, sunshine and the relentless pursuit of building the future. In the startup world, the summer is notorious for being the absolute worst time to do one thing - fundraise. The myth goes something like… “all of the venture...
From Iron to Innovation: The Story of Pittsburgh
From Iron to Innovation: The story of Pittsburgh Every city has its unique story, its own...
Tech-ing Sports to the Next Level
I'm watching Monday night football. There's that familiar little yellow line on the...
Gridiron to Groundbreaking
The end of summer signals the return of students to campus and the kick off of...
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Conversations with Steve Case and Heartland Visionaries
Conversations with Steve Case and Heartland Visionaries Today, we have some incredibly exciting news to share with you. After nearly six years of making a significant impact by connecting thousands of individuals to new career opportunities,...
AI “Over” Hype is “Under” Valued
A few weeks ago, we had an amazing event in Cleveland but something important was missing. A sold out crowd with hundreds of entrepreneurs and investors from across the region gathered to talk tech, but where were all the artificial intelligence...
Trust the network
The key to success for tech startups and aspiring tech hub cities is the quality of their trust network. This is the true “secret” to Silicon Valley success. It isn’t a place; it’s a trust network.
Disease. Famine. War. Hope.
Massive, world-altering problems are always ahead for humanity. It may seem like today's challenges are insurmountable, but in reality, these are just the challenges of the moment. I believe that bigger problems only lead to bigger solutions. Humans are...
Where is the next Uber?
Coming out of the current economic downturn, we should expect to see (and are already seeing) an explosion of entrepreneurial activity–and not just in the Bay Area, but across the country. We can be sure that the next breakout tech company is being built today somewhere, and by most indications, it’s just as likely in the Heartland as Silicon Valley.
Successful founders share their stories
I’m excited to launch a new series of short videos called “Founder Friday,” which spotlight the amazing innovation, tenacity and leadership of tech founders from across the American Heartland.
City Highlights
Venture investing is booming – if you know where to look
While the overall VC picture looked pretty grim in 2022, some bright spots emerged that may tell us something about the future direction of the innovation economy.
2022 Year In Review: As Big Tech Stumbles, the Silicon Heartland Continues to Rise
In 2022, it became clearer than ever that the health of the U.S. tech sector cannot simply be measured by what’s going on in traditional tech hubs like Silicon Valley or Seattle.
Nashville’s Sweet Perks for Residents
Why does Nashville consistently get recognized as one of the best places to live in the US? Why is...
A Look at the Startup Scene in Pittsburgh
The startup scene in Pittsburgh reveals an intricate ecosystem with abundant resources available...
Atlanta Tech Ecosystem Guide
Tech hubs across the US are growing and many are home to strong ecosystems that support startups...
Funding
Venture investing is booming – if you know where to look
While the overall VC picture looked pretty grim in 2022, some bright spots emerged that may tell us something about the future direction of the innovation economy.
Drive Capital Raises Another $1B to Invest in Columbus and the Midwest
In recent years, the Midwest has been a hotbed for innovation, with companies such as Amazon, Google, and Uber all setting up shop in the region. And now, there’s another player in the game: Drive Capital.
A Look at the Startup Scene in Pittsburgh
The startup scene in Pittsburgh reveals an intricate ecosystem with abundant resources available...
Foundations and Other Nonprofits Support Distributed, Diverse Workforces
On the heels of 2020 and mass lockdowns across the country, most employers had to overhaul their...
Austin’s Active Tech Incubators and Accelerators
In recent years, the landscape of Austin, Texas has changed. While it’s long been known for a...
Trending
From Iron to Innovation: The Story of Pittsburgh
From Iron to Innovation: The story of Pittsburgh Every city has its unique story, its own...
Tech-ing Sports to the Next Level
I'm watching Monday night football. There's that familiar little yellow line on the...
Venture investing is booming – if you know where to look
While the overall VC picture looked pretty grim in 2022, some bright spots emerged that may tell us something about the future direction of the innovation economy.
Where the Heartland leads the Future of Tech
For decades, Silicon Valley has held the title of the leading center for technology innovation and disruption, but recently it’s become clear that The Times They Are a-Changin. What is it about emerging tech regions that allow critical industries beyond software to flourish? And what can Silicon Valley learn from the Heartland about innovation and the future tech economy?
Successful founders share their stories
I’m excited to launch a new series of short videos called “Founder Friday,” which spotlight the amazing innovation, tenacity and leadership of tech founders from across the American Heartland.